Effect of opioid peptides on gonadotrophin secretion.

The intraventricular injection of 25 micrograms of Methionine-Enkephalin (Met-Enk) induces a significant increase of serum LH levels in long-term ovariectomized rats 15, 30 and 60 min following administration. The synthetic Met-Enk agonistic analogue [D-Ala2] methionine-Enkephalinamide ([D-Ala2]Met-Enk) also enhances significantly serum LH levels at 30 and 60 min; under the same experimental conditions neither Met-Enk nor [D-Ala2]Met-Enk modifies serum levels of FSH following intraventricular injections into ovariectomized animals. It is concluded that, under particular circumstances, opioid peptides of the Met-Enk family may stimulate LH release.